Lowry lights up Irish Open with course-record 62

Home hero Shane Lowry posted a course-record 62 on Friday to hold the lead at the halfway stage of the Irish Open as defending champion Rory McIlroy dropped off the pace.

Lowry, the 2019 British Open champion, fired nine birdies to lead China's Li Haotong and Danish pair Jacob Skov Olesen and Niklas Norgaard by three shots after two rounds at Donald Trump's Doonbeg resort in County Clare.

A stunning round sets a new course record and gives Shane Lowry a three-shot lead 🤩

If that remains the lowest round of the week, he'll win $30,000 courtesy of @Nexo 💰#AmgenIrishOpen pic.twitter.com/oNmtgdI1tg
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 11, 2026

The only blemish for the Irishman came with a bogey on the par-four 13th but he recovered to birdie the 15th and move to 11 under par.

"It was good fun out there," said Lowry, who revelled in the vocal home support.

"I got off to a nice start and then I just kept going. I felt great out there. Just kept my foot on the gas and tried to keep hitting good shots and keep holing putts and it was a nice day."

He added: "The crowds were amazing out there today. They support me along the way and it was nice to give them something to shout about."

It's safe to say that Shane Lowry's putter was on fire today 🔥#AmgenIrishOpen pic.twitter.com/R2W8fWORaj
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 11, 2026

Six-time major winner McIlroy struggled to find momentum in a second successive 69, despite a brilliant eagle at the eighth hole, and three-putted the final hole from close range to trail Lowry by nine shots.

The Northern Irishman said his main emotion was frustration.

"I felt like I hit it well enough to shoot a low one but I just couldn't get the putter going at all," he said.

"The last two days the greens have confused me a little bit, been struggling to read them, but I can hopefully turn it around tomorrow."